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I’ve spent the past three days in Louisiana taking part in events organized by local community leaders to highlight the devastating impacts of the climate crisis — from Hurricane Katrina to the region dominated by the petrochemical industry known as Cancer Alley.
I was deeply moved by the stories from Sharon Lavigne, @risestjames and the many people from across the River Parishes who have seen the lives of their sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters cut short by the toxic chemicals in the air they breathe, water they drink, and food they eat.
I had the opportunity to join my daughter Karenna as she led a dialogue for COP30’s Global Ethical Stocktake with those who work at the intersection of faith, environmental justice, and climate advocacy. It was made all the more powerful by our surroundings at the TEP Center with civil rights pioneer, Dr. Leona Tate.
Today, I was honored to participate in the community commemoration of the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina in the lower Ninth Ward.
During Katrina, the levees failed. But so did the policies that have perpetuated environmental injustice and placed this community on the frontlines of the climate crisis. And so did the programs that were supposed to support the survivors of this disaster.
We cannot continue to fail the people of Louisiana by using the sky as if it were an open sewer. We need to move swiftly to phase out the fossil fuels that are killing people with pollution in Cancer Alley and fueling stronger and more frequent extreme weather. When the rain comes, when the storms hit, when the drought dries up the water, when the ice melts and the sea level rises, remember these warnings came. Listen to the scientists who are warning us. Listen to the people of Cancer Alley, of the Lower Ninth Ward, and of all of the frontline communities who are demanding action.
Thank you to Sharon and the entire RISE St. James team for hosting me and @climatereality in St. James and @beyondpetrochemicals @brepairers @hiphopcaucus @taprootearth for your ongoing work to lift up the voices of those who live in Cancer Alley. And thank you @revyearwood for inviting me to join your #Katrina20 remembrance.
